Champions League / Before Juventus-PSG: Christophe Galtier “very annoyed” by Parisian defensive mistakes

It is with qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League already assured that PSG are preparing to face Juventus on Wednesday at the Allianz Stadium (9:00 p.m.). Now the French champions aim to finish in first place in their group, in order to wait “a more lenient draw”, as explained by Christophe Galtier. Present in front of the press on Tuesday evening, the French technician recalled all the stakes of this match, which he imagines “open” even if the Old Lady, adrift, will at best be content with being returned to C3. The Parisian coach also hopes that his men will be able to defend a little better than during their last two outings.

Certainly, the club of the capital remains on two victories in one week, against Maccabi Haifa and Troyes. We expected no less, to tell the truth, given the level difference between the partners of Gianluigi Donnarumma and these opponents. Nevertheless, against the Israelis (7-2), as against the Aubois (4-3), the Rouge et Bleu displayed astonishing defensive shortcomings, conceding a total of five goals in these two games. “I was very annoyed after the last two matches, recognized Galtier. There are positions that are not good, others that are not respected. It’s a question of state of mind, of commitment, of a sense of sacrifice. But sometimes we didn’t show it.”

“We lose a lot of second balls in the box on set pieces, which shows a lack of concentration and commitment”, continued the former Lille coach, pointing to notable weaknesses on set pieces. And the fact of producing a resolutely attacking game, around the Kylian Mbappé-Lionel Messi-Neymar trio, should in no way serve as a mitigating circumstance in his eyes.

“The profiles of our players and the way of playing mean that there will be an imbalance at times, because of our desire to attack. But when we lose the ball, we have to put more intensity. On the situations that we conceded, we were close to the ball and the opponent without winning the duel.” Before adding: “Sometimes you have to show more skill, make tactical mistakes to stop transitions.” It is up to his players to show that they have understood the instructions.